-The Lord GOD Is My Strength-

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree should not blossom
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail
And the fields produce no food,
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
And there be no cattle in the stalls,
Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.
The Lord GOD is my strength,
And He has made my feet like hinds' feet,
And makes me walk on my high places.

I found this encouraging.

I bought a BIKE!!!

I bought the bike yesterday but had to pick it up today. Crystal drove me down town to the bike shop and I told her that I would just ride the bike home.... Wow!!! Love the bike but when you truck up the side of a mountain after not being on a bike for years it really gets you. When I got home my legs were like jello:b

I'm really excited about it though... I think It offer really good exercise.

Hey everyone!!! Thanks so much for coming tonight to say goodbye, it was a ton of fun. You all make me feel loved:) No seriously, it really meant a lot for you all to come and see me off. Hopefully I'll see some of you in CA in the near future:)

Finish up school, work if you must and have a wonderful summer!!! Keep me in your prayers, I'll need it:)

God Bless and again, thanks for everything,
Paul

What a crazy process!!! My birthday is coming up tomorrow:) Yeah!!! Well my Drivers License was going to expire tomorrow... So yesterday I went in with Sarah (My Sister) sat in line forever.... then we found out we were in the wrong line. Next line.... waiting... waiting... I looked at Sarah, "good thing I brought my passport" didn't think I would need it but just in case. Almost up to the counter and I see a little sign no debit cards, cash or check only!!! AAAAAH!!! I didn't have cash:( "Well" says Sarah "you can come back tomorrow". We get home and Sarah runs my passport down to my office.

I spent the night at Luke and Dayna's house got up early and left for the DMV with 20 bucks. I get there stand in line, get up to the counter and realize that I don't have my passport with me it's at home.... Run home grab the passport drive back wait in line... FINALLY I get up to the counter renew my license, stand in front of the little blue cloth and take an absolutely awful looking picture... Whatever!!! The good thing is, I don't need to renew it again until 2014. I just feel bad for the cop that has to look at the picture next time I get pulled over:)

FYI... If you are getting your DRIVERS LICENSE renewed, bring your passport or birth certificate, proof of address, cash or check, your old license and a big smile:)

Paul

-Leaving for Santa Barbara California Tuesday April 22-

Just got a one way ticket to Santa Barbara California:) So God willing, I'm moving on Tuesday April 22.

I'm really excited to go:) I've never lived away from home for more then 3 months, so it will be different but good. My sisters take care of me all the time right now. They are so wonderful, always helpful, always there to talk to when I'm flipping out over something stupid:) Always giving me hugs when we haven't seen each other for more then 5 minutes. I'll really miss them:) My brothers are pretty cool too... Always supportive of everything, encouraging in the Lord and always up for an adventure:) Mark and I went hunting and 4 wheeling the other day!!! We had a blast!!! Caleb and I are room mates and we are always fighting... no jk.. only when I don't clean up my mess:) Caleb and I are like best buds. Joseph and Isaac... What can I say... They are both the MAN!!! I shake there hand every night before crashing and tell them that. Joseph always says "no your the man" and I say "no you are" and he says "okay, yeah I am the man":) Ill miss those little guys:("

LUKE, DAYNA, BRIC and ANNA I'll miss you too... It's been a blast just hanging out spending time at your houses. I really love you guys:) Thanks so much for all your hospitality and friendship:)

My parents are probably the best parents in the world... I admit I'm a bit bias. My parents are two people I've always highly respected. As I have grown in the Lord and in life they have become 2 of my best friends. Always encouraging me to walk in the strength of the Lord, to find my joy and peace in all that He is. Teaching me to always trust in His sufficiency so that when the proud waves of this world come I'll be firmly anchored to the rock, which is Jesus Christ. My dad always tells us that he want's to raise Spirit filled children rather then good children. So that when we go out and they aren't around to guide us in decisions, they can rest in the knowledge that Christ dwells within and if we are fully surrendered to all that He is, we (Christ through us) will make the right call. They have taught me so much through all these young years of my life. Their example of devotion to the Lord has been so encouraging and uplifting. Knowing that we are going to make mistakes they are always there to run to when we need advise.
I love them so much and truly hold them close as true Friends in the LORD.

To all the soccer people that may read this: You guys are so great!!! Tonight was a blast!!! I couldn't have had a better time!!! Hanging out with you all this last year has been so much fun. To see so many people that love the Lord and can get together and play respectful, competitive soccer is truly amazing. I'll miss you all and soccer so much. Play hard and have a good summer:)

Well that's a wrap... Pray for me, that I get everything packed successfully, everything wrapped up on this end and that I don't freak out:) JK... I don't think I will.

God Bless and I'll miss all of you:)

Paul Rogers

-TIMING-

Philippians 4

Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

So many times I find myself ANXIOUS and wanting rather then content and steadfast in Christ. I want things my way right now, instead of His way in His timing. I thank God for the aggressiveness and "go get it" spunk that He has instilled in me, its the way I work and think but only when backed by Him is it a good thing. I think sometimes I just get so carried away and forget that God is in control. I forget that Christ is my heavenly father and wants what's best for me. All He wants me to do is simply ask, trust, rest in all that He is and wait patiently on Him.
Christ promises that if I would only trust in Him, His peace "the peace of God", which surpasses all comprehension, would guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus. What a wonderful God we serve:)

Proverbs 24:16
for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again.

At times we are going to fail, fall straight on our face, be battered and beat, all because of our own old, wicked, defiant nature. But wen we do fall our heavenly father is there to pick us up again, enwrap our hand in His only then making it possible for us to once again walk (Christ Through Us) the impossible road He has called us too.

I know that in God's timing all things are perfect but sometimes its hard to trust.

Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. "Then it shall come about when the LORD your God brings you into the land which He swore to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to give you, great and splendid cities which you did not build, and houses full of all good things which you did not fill, and hewn cisterns which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant, and you eat and are satisfied, then watch yourself, that you do not forget the LORD who brought you from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

When I read this I think of how many times God has blessed me beyond what I deserve, giving me all I need and more. But also how easy it is to forget the Lord in prosperity and drift in a direction that is not pleasing to Him. It's a sobering thought to think about how easy it is to forget the Lord in times when He has given us so much. Someone once said "never forget to remember all that the Lord has done in your life" for it is because of Christ that you are blessed. Boast in the name of the Lord who has done it, for He is worthy of our praise.

-LEARN TO REMEMBER-